I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello and welcome to 3ABN Today.
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I am Chris Shelton
along with my husband
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Pastor Kenny Shelton.
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And we are so excited,
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we're going to study
a Bible topic tonight.
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And tonight's
topic or today's topic
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whenever you may be
watching is entitled
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"Choose you this day",
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that might even
sound a little scriptural,
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Pastor Kenny, what do you think?
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It is, and that's
what I love about, right.
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Absolutely.
It's scriptural, yes.
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And we've got a
couple wonderful guests
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over to our right.
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The first one is Jason Bradley,
he is the general assistant...
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Assistant to
the General Manager.
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Assistant to
the General Manager,
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which is Sister Yvonne Lewis,
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we all love her very, very much,
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and we love you too.
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And next to him is Dee Casper.
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And, Dee Casper,
you've got a ministry,
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and it's entitled UnScene Media?
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Yeah, UnScene Media.
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I think a lot of our visitors
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that are visiting by television,
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they've seen and
heard you speak before,
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and tell a little bit
about your ministry before,
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'cause I have been one of those.
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I've heard a
little bit about it so...
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You keep pretty
busy too, don't you?
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Yeah, I travel a
lot right now. Yes.
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Ten straight weeks.
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Praise the Lord, that's good.
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Well, we're glad
you've taken time out
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to join with us today.
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And to me, it's
an exciting subject
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that may be elementary to some,
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we'll say ABC,
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but really there
ought be millions
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that have no idea what it
is to "Choose you this day"
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whom you're going to serve,
and the thing is the process.
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So we're going to be
discussing that process,
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it's a six step process, right?
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You might as
well talk about that.
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Yeah, I love it
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because you
broken it down into six.
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You called it six easy steps,
but when I went back through,
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it took me a
while to just look up
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all these Bible passages,
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but that's good,
that's really good.
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In fact, I'm
planning on putting it
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in a pamphlet for people,
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so they can have
it in the future.
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It's a good,
good six point steps
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because many times, we come in,
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and we are baptized,
and we joined the church,
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and we think
that's all there is to it.
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But, you know,
it's a daily walk,
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it's a daily decision.
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So we have to
choose each and every day,
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sometimes each and every moment
whom we're going to serve.
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And how do we do that?
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A lot of new Christians,
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in fact, not just
new Christians, Pastor,
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but a lot of people
that have been in the church
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for many years
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really don't
understand these simple steps.
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And I think as we see
time drawing closer and closer
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to the second coming,
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we're going to see
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just how important
these six steps are.
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So we used the
word 'easy' lightly.
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You know, it's easy
if we just have faith,
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and read
scripture, and follow through,
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but to follow
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what we're going to be
reading from the scripture
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is sometime a
challenge to lot of us,
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not just the young
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but may be the older has
been in the church a while.
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So anyway, by the grace of God
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we're going to
get in this study.
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That's right.
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And, you know, it's all
built on the solid rock,
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isn't that beautiful?
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And we're going to start out
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by listening to
sister Yvonne Lewis
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from Dare to Dream and 3ABN
as she sings the "Solid Rock".
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On Christ the solid rock I stand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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My hope is built on nothing less
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Than Jesus'
blood and righteousness
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I dare not trust
the sweetest frame
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But wholly lean on Jesus' name
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On Christ the solid rock I stand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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When darkness
fails His lovely face
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I rest on His unchanging grace
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In every high and stormy gale
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My anchor holds within the veil
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On Christ the solid rock I stand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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His oath, His word, His blood
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His blood, He heals me
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He then is all my Hope and Stay
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When He shall
come with trumpet sound
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Oh, may I then in Him be found
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Dressed in His
righteousness alone
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Faultless to stand
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Before His throne
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All other ground is sinking sand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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On Christ the solid rock I stand
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On Christ the solid rock I stand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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On Christ, the solid rock
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I stand
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Wow! Hallelujah.
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Thank you, Sister Yvonne. Mercy.
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That was a sermon within itself.
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Absolutely.
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Every other
ground is sinking sand.
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And that's what this lesson
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is built upon
is that solid rock,
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and we want to give our
folks at home six simple steps
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to stay grounded
on that solid rock.
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But before we do, Pastor,
would you have prayer for us?
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Yes, let's pray, shall we?
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Loving Father in
heaven, truly it is a privilege
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to be part of the
family of God today.
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We thank You for the
power that You've promised to us
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as we set our hearts
and our minds upon Thee.
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We ask and
invite Thy Holy Spirit,
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take possession of our
hearts, our minds, our lives.
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We praise, we break
the precious bread of life
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that You will
impart the knowledge
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that we need and the wisdom.
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And work upon each individual
who either listens or watches
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that each one
may want to sit down,
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take some notes to realize
these are important things
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that we need to put in order.
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And if we put them in order,
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the Holy Spirit has promised
to do great things for us.
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Bless now, we
pray, each and every one
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as we break the
bread of life again.
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May it come
back and bear a fruit
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which it will, and we're
going to thank You in advance,
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thank You for it again.
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Each and everyone who views,
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may the spirit of the living God
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touch hearts and lives
right now, in Jesus' name.
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There's nothing
like the Word of God,
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it does not return void.
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It's beautiful.
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In fact, I found myself
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claiming some of
these Bible verses,
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and then I told him, he
put it together real quick.
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After they asked us, I
said, "I love it, I love it."
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And the first one,
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I don't know
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how far we're going be
able to get with this study,
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but if we don't
get through all of it,
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at least, I might go
through some of the topics
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with you towards
the end of this study
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so they have an idea.
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But the first one, step one,
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"Ask God to wake you up early
so time can be spent with Him."
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And, you know, by
profession, I am a teacher,
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and I taught
school for several years,
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and I would tell my kids,
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"Don't even get out of
bed until you pray first.
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Then if you need to get
up, get a drink of water,
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you come back,
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and you have your
little Bible study."
00:10:05.50\00:10:07.94
And that's good for even adults.
00:10:07.97\00:10:10.54
And when we're
out doing evangelism,
00:10:10.57\00:10:12.34
we encourage people to
do the very same thing.
00:10:12.37\00:10:15.11
Don't event take a bite of food,
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not even physical food
till you eat that spiritual,
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why is that?
00:10:20.68\00:10:22.15
I think it's the most
important thing we can do,
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because what
happens if you're like I am,
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maybe you guys, we get busy.
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Sometimes, we get very busy.
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If we get up
and start, you know,
00:10:31.43\00:10:33.16
"Well, we're just
going to do this first,
00:10:33.19\00:10:34.53
and then we'll get
back into the word,"
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first never comes,
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you know, so the very thing
that we need to do is to do,
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like you said,
dedicate this time, and energy,
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everything to the
cause of Christ first,
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then all these
other things will be added
00:10:45.74\00:10:47.08
in will get them done.
00:10:47.11\00:10:48.44
And what I find
00:10:48.48\00:10:49.81
and what I have
found through the years,
00:10:49.84\00:10:51.18
if you don't do it
first, the phone starts ringing,
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the kids get up.
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And I know, you
got a wonderful story
00:10:55.45\00:10:56.79
when you first started
studying early in the morning.
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The kids start getting up,
00:10:59.55\00:11:01.22
things begin to
happen because the old enemy,
00:11:01.26\00:11:03.96
he doesn't want
you to spend time
00:11:03.99\00:11:05.33
in the Word of God
00:11:05.36\00:11:06.70
'cause the Word of
God is power, it is truth.
00:11:06.73\00:11:09.10
Tell us what happened
00:11:09.13\00:11:10.47
when you first
dedicated morning time
00:11:10.50\00:11:12.73
to worshiping the Lord?
00:11:12.77\00:11:14.40
Yeah.
00:11:14.44\00:11:15.77
You know, each morning,
00:11:15.80\00:11:17.14
you may have a
story different ones,
00:11:17.17\00:11:18.51
there comes a time,
00:11:18.54\00:11:19.87
I think, in our life
and probably yours too,
00:11:19.91\00:11:21.84
you know,
belonging to the church
00:11:21.88\00:11:23.21
as we're being Christians,
00:11:23.24\00:11:25.01
Adventist
Christians, whatever might be,
00:11:25.05\00:11:27.02
and you're really not converted,
00:11:27.05\00:11:28.98
you know, I was
there for a lot of years.
00:11:29.02\00:11:31.39
And my failure was, I
didn't even realize I wasn't.
00:11:31.42\00:11:34.29
You can be been so
lukewarm, you don't know
00:11:34.32\00:11:35.66
'cause you go
through all the emotions,
00:11:35.69\00:11:37.03
and you're consistent
in doing those things.
00:11:37.06\00:11:39.49
And I remember when
conversion really came,
00:11:39.53\00:11:41.36
and knocked at my door,
00:11:41.40\00:11:42.73
and Lord came to me
in a dream that I had,
00:11:42.76\00:11:45.97
and He talked to me,
00:11:46.00\00:11:47.54
and it's very interesting thing.
00:11:47.57\00:11:49.74
Well, when you're lukewarm,
you don't know the master,
00:11:49.77\00:11:51.67
you don't know the shepherd,
00:11:51.71\00:11:53.04
but I remember
one thing quickly,
00:11:53.07\00:11:54.41
what's
interesting is when the Lord
00:11:54.44\00:11:56.38
as it were
appeared to me in the dream,
00:11:56.41\00:11:59.05
He said, "Kenny," first
thing He said was Kenny.
00:11:59.08\00:12:03.35
And my response to
Him was, "Yes, Lord."
00:12:03.39\00:12:07.26
I knew His voice,
that makes you good.
00:12:07.29\00:12:09.99
I knew and recognized His voice,
00:12:10.03\00:12:11.69
but still in a
lukewarm condition,
00:12:11.73\00:12:13.13
'cause I said, "Yes, Lord."
00:12:13.16\00:12:14.50
And I knew He's seen
all the way through me,
00:12:14.53\00:12:16.26
no alibis, no
excuses, no anything.
00:12:16.30\00:12:18.97
The bottom line is after
that, the conversion came,
00:12:19.00\00:12:21.87
and I needed to study more.
00:12:21.90\00:12:23.71
I realized it, and
you take time to do it,
00:12:23.74\00:12:25.64
and with couple of kids running
around the house that time,
00:12:25.67\00:12:28.11
it is very difficult,
00:12:28.14\00:12:29.48
so we had a bigger
house at a basement.
00:12:29.51\00:12:31.65
So I said, "You know what,
about 5 o'clock every morning,
00:12:31.68\00:12:34.55
I'm gonna go down there,
00:12:34.58\00:12:35.92
and I'm gonna spend an
hour or so before I go to work."
00:12:35.95\00:12:37.75
I was doing
construction at the time.
00:12:37.79\00:12:39.59
And I went down at 5
o'clock in the morning,
00:12:39.62\00:12:42.32
you know, before
anybody else would get up,
00:12:42.36\00:12:43.69
was quite in the
basement, close the door,
00:12:43.73\00:12:45.93
it wasn't two, three minutes,
00:12:45.96\00:12:47.30
and here come the little
man about three years old,
00:12:47.33\00:12:49.70
opened the door, and come
in, wants to play in the corner,
00:12:49.73\00:12:51.23
you know.
00:12:51.27\00:12:52.60
"Oh, man! I can't concentrate
with all those," you know.
00:12:52.63\00:12:55.94
So any way, I put up with that.
00:12:55.97\00:12:57.47
The next morning, same thing.
00:12:57.51\00:12:59.24
He's not used to getting up.
00:12:59.27\00:13:00.61
I thought, "Right then,
00:13:00.64\00:13:01.98
I'm gonna be
careful with this one."
00:13:02.01\00:13:03.35
I said, "The old
enemy is waking him up,
00:13:03.38\00:13:05.35
and he is coming down here,
so that I can't spend time."
00:13:05.38\00:13:07.72
So I thought,
"Well, I'll just fool him,
00:13:07.75\00:13:09.35
I'm going to get
up at 4 o'clock."
00:13:09.38\00:13:10.85
So next day, I get up at
4 o'clock in the morning,
00:13:10.89\00:13:12.99
and just couple of minutes
after 4, here he came down.
00:13:13.02\00:13:16.06
I thought, "This
is not going to work."
00:13:16.09\00:13:17.49
You know, I said,
"Let's give it another chance."
00:13:17.53\00:13:19.13
Next morning, same thing,
00:13:19.16\00:13:20.50
come down there,
he is right there,
00:13:20.53\00:13:22.03
want to play, and you
hate to send him back,
00:13:22.06\00:13:23.57
you hate to, you know...
00:13:23.60\00:13:25.00
And so finally, I said,
"Well, I'm going to fool him,
00:13:25.03\00:13:26.60
I'm going to get
up at 3 o'clock."
00:13:26.63\00:13:28.47
No way he is going
to be up at 3 o'clock.
00:13:28.50\00:13:29.97
I tell you, the
little man was down,
00:13:30.01\00:13:31.34
a few minutes after
3, there he was again.
00:13:31.37\00:13:33.24
I realized I was faced to fate,
00:13:33.27\00:13:34.61
the enemy was working very hard.
00:13:34.64\00:13:36.41
So for a couple of days in row,
00:13:36.44\00:13:37.85
I encouraged him
to stay in his bed.
00:13:37.88\00:13:39.38
If he didn't, he's
going to be in trouble.
00:13:39.41\00:13:41.55
And finally, he still came down,
00:13:41.58\00:13:42.92
so what I basically
did is stay in his hide,
00:13:42.95\00:13:44.65
put him in bed, and I
never had any more problems.
00:13:44.69\00:13:48.26
Well, that's
technically one solution.
00:13:48.29\00:13:51.39
That does not
always work for everybody.
00:13:51.43\00:13:53.46
I worked for quite
a few days different.
00:13:53.50\00:13:55.86
But that finally worked,
00:13:55.90\00:13:57.37
and so I just see how the enemy,
00:13:57.40\00:13:59.43
you know, can
try to disturb you.
00:13:59.47\00:14:00.80
And I think it's good
that we realize, as Christians,
00:14:00.84\00:14:04.94
that when we
are stepping forward
00:14:04.97\00:14:07.21
in truth and in power,
00:14:07.24\00:14:10.18
you know, this is
a spiritual warfare,
00:14:10.21\00:14:12.51
and we're going to
see these things happen,
00:14:12.55\00:14:14.38
so how do we deal with them?
00:14:14.42\00:14:16.18
And that's a way
you dealt with them,
00:14:16.22\00:14:17.75
so how about you, guys?
00:14:17.79\00:14:19.12
I think that
time early is helpful
00:14:19.15\00:14:20.79
and the keyword is early,
00:14:20.82\00:14:22.16
because it's
before the world wakes,
00:14:22.19\00:14:23.53
it's before the
world kind of shows up
00:14:23.56\00:14:24.89
and starts
clamoring at your doorstep
00:14:24.93\00:14:26.26
but with the
exception of your situation
00:14:26.29\00:14:27.96
in a general sense,
00:14:28.00\00:14:29.33
I know that when
I try to sleep in
00:14:29.36\00:14:31.10
to catch up from
travels or other things,
00:14:31.13\00:14:33.90
life shows up so quick
00:14:33.94\00:14:35.44
that if you don't
get that time first,
00:14:35.47\00:14:37.14
it just comes and
steals it from you.
00:14:37.17\00:14:38.51
Exactly.
00:14:38.54\00:14:39.87
And I made a
commitment years ago,
00:14:39.91\00:14:42.08
about eight or nine years ago
00:14:42.11\00:14:43.45
that I was not going to
start my day without that.
00:14:43.48\00:14:46.28
I may make hot
water, early plane flights,
00:14:46.31\00:14:48.38
it didn't matter what it was,
and God has blessed that time.
00:14:48.42\00:14:51.65
He's restored it to me tenfold,
00:14:51.69\00:14:53.02
and who I am now
00:14:53.05\00:14:54.39
is not who I was when
I started that process.
00:14:54.42\00:14:56.62
By first
submitting to the process
00:14:56.66\00:14:58.49
and choosing to honor
Him with my firstfruits
00:14:58.53\00:15:00.93
and letting Him
have the rest of the day.
00:15:00.96\00:15:03.23
And, yeah, that time
never returns to you void.
00:15:03.26\00:15:06.20
Amen. Amen.
00:15:06.23\00:15:07.57
You ever noticed that is
just, I think in Exodus 31,
00:15:07.60\00:15:12.37
where the manna,
00:15:12.41\00:15:13.74
I always relate
to that, the manna,
00:15:13.78\00:15:15.34
you know, you're going
to put the manna out there,
00:15:15.38\00:15:16.98
and what did God
say, "You go out there,
00:15:17.01\00:15:18.68
and you get the manna early,"
because when the sun begin to,
00:15:18.71\00:15:21.88
what, come up as it were,
what happened to the manna?
00:15:21.92\00:15:25.15
Disappeared. It melted away.
00:15:25.19\00:15:26.65
It's gone, it disappeared.
00:15:26.69\00:15:28.12
So I relate that
to spiritual study,
00:15:28.16\00:15:29.79
if we're not careful,
00:15:29.82\00:15:31.16
you know, get it early
00:15:31.19\00:15:32.53
before the phone
starts ringing in,
00:15:32.56\00:15:34.03
before the day's activities,
00:15:34.06\00:15:35.96
and the Lord will
bless you for that.
00:15:36.00\00:15:37.33
You ever seen that
happen in your life?
00:15:37.37\00:15:39.03
Yes, and you know what,
00:15:39.07\00:15:40.40
it's like I'm not
really a morning person
00:15:40.44\00:15:43.20
to be honest.
00:15:43.24\00:15:44.57
Well, let's be honest.
00:15:44.61\00:15:47.08
But, you know, they always say,
be careful what you pray for.
00:15:47.11\00:15:50.08
I pray and ask God to
get me up in the morning
00:15:50.11\00:15:51.91
so that I can study,
00:15:51.95\00:15:53.28
and have my
devotion, and all that stuff,
00:15:53.31\00:15:54.82
and He will wake
you up in the morning,
00:15:54.85\00:15:57.39
He is better
than the alarm clock.
00:15:57.42\00:15:58.95
But I think that
00:15:58.99\00:16:00.32
it's so important
to study early on,
00:16:00.36\00:16:02.02
because one,
00:16:02.06\00:16:04.13
you have to surrender your
day and your life to the Lord,
00:16:04.16\00:16:07.90
what better time than
the morning to do that.
00:16:07.93\00:16:10.40
That's not saying,
00:16:10.43\00:16:11.77
"Don't pray throughout the day,"
00:16:11.80\00:16:13.13
of course, you
pray throughout the day,
00:16:13.17\00:16:14.50
but studying
early in the morning
00:16:14.54\00:16:15.94
where your mind is fresh,
00:16:15.97\00:16:17.61
you know, and you're
waking up, and everything,
00:16:17.64\00:16:21.34
you're able to absorb a
lot more than if you wait
00:16:21.38\00:16:24.01
until the middle or
towards the end of day,
00:16:24.05\00:16:27.62
your faculties aren't
going to be as strong.
00:16:27.65\00:16:30.09
So it's important to pray
00:16:30.12\00:16:32.52
and ask the Lord
to order our steps.
00:16:32.55\00:16:35.19
You know, because He knows
the end from the beginning.
00:16:35.22\00:16:37.63
And so we have to
plan our whole day
00:16:37.66\00:16:40.73
involving God in our lives.
00:16:40.76\00:16:42.96
So whose example
should we follow,
00:16:43.00\00:16:44.97
'cause that's the
part of our lesson
00:16:45.00\00:16:46.33
that we're doing here.
00:16:46.37\00:16:47.70
It's Christ
example. It's whose example.
00:16:47.74\00:16:49.07
Jesus Christ.
With Jesus' example.
00:16:49.10\00:16:51.47
And it was our
first passage on there,
00:16:51.51\00:16:53.17
it says in John 13:15.
00:16:53.21\00:16:56.64
Some people at
home, they'll say,
00:16:56.68\00:16:58.01
"Oh, you're talking
about communion service,"
00:16:58.05\00:17:00.08
and so on and so forth,
it's everything that Jesus did.
00:17:00.12\00:17:03.55
He's our example
right in everything.
00:17:03.59\00:17:06.49
And there in John 13:15,
00:17:06.52\00:17:08.02
now you can jot
this down at home
00:17:08.06\00:17:09.39
because there's a lot of things,
00:17:09.42\00:17:10.76
and hopefully
we'll get to few of them.
00:17:10.79\00:17:12.13
It says, "For
I've given you" what?
00:17:12.16\00:17:13.63
An example.
00:17:13.66\00:17:15.00
"An example that you should
do as I have done to you."
00:17:15.03\00:17:18.73
And to me, that just
opened up another door besides,
00:17:18.77\00:17:21.57
you know, the communion.
00:17:21.60\00:17:22.94
That's
everything that Jesus did,
00:17:22.97\00:17:24.64
He is my example,
then, in all things.
00:17:24.67\00:17:28.08
So we can learn
through this study here.
00:17:28.11\00:17:30.81
What did Jesus
do? How did He do it?
00:17:30.85\00:17:33.55
How did He, you know,
how was He victorious?
00:17:33.58\00:17:35.88
How did He gain the
victory over the enemy?
00:17:35.92\00:17:38.02
You know, what did
He do with His time?
00:17:38.05\00:17:40.19
It helps me to
understand what I need to do.
00:17:40.22\00:17:41.76
Exactly.
00:17:41.79\00:17:43.12
And, you know, I want to
echo what they're saying,
00:17:43.16\00:17:45.16
because that's when my life
00:17:45.19\00:17:46.90
really changed
as a Christian, too,
00:17:46.93\00:17:49.20
is when I
decided to dedicate time
00:17:49.23\00:17:51.83
in the morning for Jesus,
00:17:51.87\00:17:53.84
and the first fruit
of the morning to Him,
00:17:53.87\00:17:57.24
and that's when
things began to change,
00:17:57.27\00:17:59.94
and I love it.
00:17:59.97\00:18:01.31
I'm going to jump
down to Mark 1:35,
00:18:01.34\00:18:03.65
'cause you said,
"What did Jesus do?"
00:18:03.68\00:18:05.78
It says, "And in the morning,
00:18:05.81\00:18:07.58
rising up a
great while before day,
00:18:07.62\00:18:10.45
He went out and
departed into a solitary place,
00:18:10.49\00:18:14.79
and there, prayed."
00:18:14.82\00:18:16.86
Amen. What an example!
00:18:16.89\00:18:19.36
Exactly, there's
no better example
00:18:19.39\00:18:21.83
than what He's given us.
00:18:21.86\00:18:23.87
And if we wait...
00:18:23.90\00:18:25.80
I know when
we're doing evangelism,
00:18:25.83\00:18:27.57
it's usually late night,
00:18:27.60\00:18:28.94
so it's hard to
get up quite as early,
00:18:28.97\00:18:31.34
and when the sun is up,
00:18:31.37\00:18:32.97
and you feel like
you've lost that morning,
00:18:33.01\00:18:34.74
it's a little more difficult,
but it's still important,
00:18:34.78\00:18:37.91
and we're going to touch
on just how important it is.
00:18:37.95\00:18:39.68
It still applies, you
know, you've mentioned, Dee,
00:18:39.71\00:18:43.45
you go
traveling, and you get back,
00:18:43.49\00:18:45.15
and sometimes you're
little out of source with time,
00:18:45.19\00:18:47.72
and changes, and all
that, but it doesn't mean,
00:18:47.76\00:18:50.36
"Well, you don't
study for that day."
00:18:50.39\00:18:52.19
It means to getting up at 5,
00:18:52.23\00:18:53.76
you may have
got up at 6 o'clock.
00:18:53.80\00:18:55.56
It's still the same
process goes on when you get up,
00:18:55.60\00:18:58.53
and get
balanced, and ready to go.
00:18:58.57\00:18:59.90
Absolutely.
00:18:59.93\00:19:01.27
One of the beautiful things
00:19:01.30\00:19:02.87
that I find in John
13:15 is where it says,
00:19:02.90\00:19:07.58
"For I have given you an example
00:19:07.61\00:19:08.94
that you should do
as I have done to you."
00:19:08.98\00:19:12.31
Not as I have said to
you, but as I have done to you,
00:19:12.35\00:19:16.05
you know, that's
one of the many things
00:19:16.08\00:19:19.05
that makes Christ
such a great leader.
00:19:19.09\00:19:20.66
So He doesn't just tell you
just go do this, He's done it.
00:19:20.69\00:19:24.53
Yes. Oh, absolutely.
00:19:24.56\00:19:26.36
He set the
example, isn't that right?
00:19:26.39\00:19:28.26
Yes. And I don't know about you.
00:19:28.30\00:19:30.33
You guys and my wife here,
00:19:30.37\00:19:32.03
but if I'm working
with someone or for someone,
00:19:32.07\00:19:35.30
I kind of like
them set a good example.
00:19:35.34\00:19:37.67
You know,
preacher comes along, says,
00:19:37.71\00:19:39.24
"Boys, let's dig a ditch."
00:19:39.27\00:19:40.61
I want to see that preacher
with shovel in his hand,
00:19:40.64\00:19:42.24
I want to see him
down in the ditch first.
00:19:42.28\00:19:44.01
Yeah, I mean, even think
about when Christ was baptized,
00:19:44.05\00:19:47.92
you know, like He
doesn't tell us to do
00:19:47.95\00:19:50.49
what He didn't do.
00:19:50.52\00:19:52.05
That's right. Exactly.
00:19:52.09\00:19:53.69
And if He needed it,
how much more do we, right?
00:19:53.72\00:19:56.29
It wasn't just that He was going
00:19:56.32\00:19:57.66
through the motions
just as an outward example.
00:19:57.69\00:19:59.63
But He Himself,
00:19:59.66\00:20:01.66
baptism is a
little different, right,
00:20:01.70\00:20:03.03
like Jesus' situation
00:20:03.06\00:20:04.40
was different than
ours in that sense.
00:20:04.43\00:20:05.77
But He did it as an example,
00:20:05.80\00:20:07.14
when it comes to
communing with God,
00:20:07.17\00:20:08.50
He drew strength from God daily,
00:20:08.54\00:20:09.90
He needed that time with Him
00:20:09.94\00:20:11.81
to have wisdom on
what to do for that day,
00:20:11.84\00:20:13.74
to have power to
overcome for that day,
00:20:13.78\00:20:16.04
serving his heart
and his decisions.
00:20:16.08\00:20:18.11
And if Jesus needed that,
00:20:18.15\00:20:19.58
you better believe
that you and I need it.
00:20:19.61\00:20:21.48
And that's always
been the reminder for me
00:20:21.52\00:20:23.42
that whether I
feel like it or not,
00:20:23.45\00:20:24.92
it doesn't matter, I
know that I have a need.
00:20:24.95\00:20:27.79
I don't go to God in
the morning in scripture,
00:20:27.82\00:20:29.56
because I'm
trying to save myself,
00:20:29.59\00:20:31.26
because I'm trying to get myself
00:20:31.29\00:20:32.63
out of the mess,
00:20:32.66\00:20:34.00
I know that I have a need,
and I'm confessing that need,
00:20:34.03\00:20:36.70
and asking God
to provide for that
00:20:36.73\00:20:38.17
when I commune with Him.
00:20:38.20\00:20:39.53
Really, it's
like a light, right?
00:20:39.57\00:20:42.00
If you have a lamp
00:20:42.04\00:20:43.37
that's sitting
over there unplugged,
00:20:43.41\00:20:45.34
it's useless.
00:20:45.37\00:20:46.71
Just sitting there,
00:20:46.74\00:20:48.08
you have to plug
into the power source
00:20:48.11\00:20:50.11
which is God,
00:20:50.15\00:20:51.48
which is why we
have to commune with God.
00:20:51.51\00:20:54.88
In preparation, I was
thinking about this as well,
00:20:54.92\00:20:57.65
because there's so many
people that don't realize
00:20:57.69\00:20:59.75
they have this need,
00:20:59.79\00:21:01.12
and that's a scary,
that's too lukewarm.
00:21:01.16\00:21:03.86
We need to really wake up.
00:21:03.89\00:21:05.23
But I was thinking, "Boy!
00:21:05.26\00:21:06.59
Wouldn't it be nice
00:21:06.63\00:21:07.96
if I could just
clean my house one time,
00:21:08.00\00:21:09.53
just one time, and it
would stay like that?"
00:21:09.56\00:21:12.50
But our house gets dirty.
00:21:12.53\00:21:14.64
And likewise, our
spiritual house gets dirty.
00:21:14.67\00:21:17.64
We need that time.
00:21:17.67\00:21:19.31
I used to encourage people,
even if it's just 10 minutes,
00:21:19.34\00:21:22.28
because a lot of
people say, "Why?
00:21:22.31\00:21:23.65
I don't like to
read, I don't like this,"
00:21:23.68\00:21:26.55
all kinds of excuse,
00:21:26.58\00:21:27.92
you know, there's
going to be a lot of excuses
00:21:27.95\00:21:29.28
that keep people
00:21:29.32\00:21:30.65
from out of
heaven unfortunately.
00:21:30.69\00:21:32.32
So, you know, get
rid of those excuses,
00:21:32.35\00:21:35.49
get back to what Jesus
has done and set for us to do.
00:21:35.52\00:21:38.59
And just start with 10 minutes,
00:21:38.63\00:21:40.16
the beautiful thing is
00:21:40.20\00:21:41.53
if you spend 10
minutes in prayer,
00:21:41.56\00:21:43.53
10 minutes reading your
Bible, or Spirit of Prophecy,
00:21:43.57\00:21:47.77
pretty soon you're
going to want more.
00:21:47.80\00:21:49.44
You're going to
hunger and thirst for more.
00:21:49.47\00:21:51.67
And an hour goes by,
00:21:51.71\00:21:53.04
and it still
feels like 10 minutes.
00:21:53.07\00:21:55.18
It's beautiful.
00:21:55.21\00:21:56.54
So you cannot, you
cannot get too much of God.
00:21:56.58\00:21:59.51
You know, one thing what
ways you should work in here
00:21:59.55\00:22:02.18
is one my favorite
text in Isaiah 50:4
00:22:02.22\00:22:04.99
even though we
might have passed it
00:22:05.02\00:22:06.35
in the order, still yet,
00:22:06.39\00:22:07.72
because here's what I've heard,
00:22:07.76\00:22:09.09
see if you heard the same thing.
00:22:09.12\00:22:11.29
I just can't get
up in the morning.
00:22:11.33\00:22:14.36
I just can't wake
up, I set the alarm,
00:22:14.40\00:22:17.47
and then presume I
don't even hear the alarm,
00:22:17.50\00:22:18.83
I can't get up.
00:22:18.87\00:22:20.20
This passage
really should help us
00:22:20.24\00:22:22.60
and encourage us who
really does wake us up.
00:22:22.64\00:22:26.04
Someone have that,
may want to read that.
00:22:26.07\00:22:27.68
Yes. Yes.
00:22:27.71\00:22:29.21
Isaiah 50:4,
00:22:29.24\00:22:31.15
"The Lord God hath given
me the tongue of the learned,
00:22:31.18\00:22:34.02
that I should know how
to speak a word in season
00:22:34.05\00:22:36.69
to Him that is weary,
00:22:36.72\00:22:38.15
He weakeneth morning by morning,
00:22:38.19\00:22:40.26
He weakeneth...
00:22:40.29\00:22:41.62
He wakeneth,"
00:22:41.66\00:22:42.99
not weakeneth, wakeneth, sorry,
00:22:43.02\00:22:44.69
I should have some glasses on
00:22:44.73\00:22:46.23
"He wakeneth mine ear
to hear as the learned."
00:22:46.26\00:22:50.73
Don't you love the
passage there, Dee,
00:22:50.77\00:22:52.13
where he said, who
does the waking if we pray?
00:22:52.17\00:22:54.94
Do we have to ask or we just,
00:22:54.97\00:22:56.30
He just
automatically gonna do it?
00:22:56.34\00:22:58.47
Oh, it's really.
00:22:58.51\00:22:59.84
I mean it could be
either one of that sense,
00:22:59.87\00:23:01.21
you can ask Him to do
it but there are times
00:23:01.24\00:23:02.58
when I have been awakened
00:23:02.61\00:23:03.95
not because I
gave God permission
00:23:03.98\00:23:05.31
but because God had a burden
00:23:05.35\00:23:06.88
that He needed
someone to be praying
00:23:06.92\00:23:08.25
at that given moment.
00:23:08.28\00:23:09.68
And, yeah, you got to respond.
00:23:09.72\00:23:12.05
I mean, that happens maybe
00:23:12.09\00:23:13.42
when you're preparing
for a message, or sermon,
00:23:13.46\00:23:15.26
and different
things in the wee hours.
00:23:15.29\00:23:17.93
Lot of times, you
will find that I'm gone
00:23:17.96\00:23:20.40
because again maybe,
00:23:20.43\00:23:21.76
you know, our
prayer has been always,
00:23:21.80\00:23:23.60
"Lord, wake us up
00:23:23.63\00:23:24.97
or help us to
have an ear to hear
00:23:25.00\00:23:26.53
so that we can
study and do what,"
00:23:26.57\00:23:28.00
and sometime in the
middle of the night,
00:23:28.04\00:23:29.80
maybe you slept
a couple of hours,
00:23:29.84\00:23:31.17
and all of a sudden,
you're just wide awakened,
00:23:31.21\00:23:32.54
and Lord says,
"Go down and study.
00:23:32.57\00:23:34.44
Go down and read."
00:23:34.48\00:23:35.81
So to me, He's waking us up.
00:23:35.84\00:23:38.08
But for those who have a
difficult time, pray, pray.
00:23:38.11\00:23:41.98
Say, "Please, Holy Spirit,
wake me up in the morning."
00:23:42.02\00:23:45.45
And I guarantee
you, He will wake you up,
00:23:45.49\00:23:48.06
and then you have to do
your part, get out of bed.
00:23:48.09\00:23:50.66
And this is a good time
00:23:50.69\00:23:52.03
that we all need
our personal study
00:23:52.06\00:23:54.23
but we needed...
00:23:54.26\00:23:55.60
Those of us who
have had children,
00:23:55.63\00:23:57.83
they need that
time with Jesus too.
00:23:57.87\00:23:59.87
And they need to be
taught at an early age,
00:23:59.90\00:24:02.57
and we're quickly
running out of time.
00:24:02.60\00:24:04.57
I like to, kind of,
00:24:04.61\00:24:05.94
may be wrap this
first step up with this.
00:24:05.97\00:24:09.74
Family worship
should not be governed
00:24:09.78\00:24:11.78
by circumstances.
00:24:11.81\00:24:13.21
And we touched on
the circumstances,
00:24:13.25\00:24:15.12
if you don't do it first
thing, then the devil comes in,
00:24:15.15\00:24:18.35
he steals your time.
00:24:18.39\00:24:19.79
So we don't let
circumstances do it.
00:24:19.82\00:24:22.82
It says, "You are not
to pray occasionally."
00:24:22.86\00:24:25.19
By the way, this is found
in Child Guidance, page 520,
00:24:25.23\00:24:29.16
"You are not to
pray occasionally
00:24:29.20\00:24:31.30
and when you have
a large day's work
00:24:31.33\00:24:33.57
to do neglected."
00:24:33.60\00:24:35.77
How often have we got up and,
00:24:35.80\00:24:37.37
"Oh, I'm just too
busy," we're never to do that.
00:24:37.41\00:24:41.88
What is more important?
00:24:41.91\00:24:43.31
She says in 'Steps to Christ',
00:24:43.35\00:24:44.68
if the enemy
enshrouds in darkness,
00:24:44.71\00:24:46.05
those who neglect to pray,
00:24:46.08\00:24:47.85
there's one of those ways
00:24:47.88\00:24:49.22
that we can be
protected from darkness,
00:24:49.25\00:24:50.85
from those attacks is to
commit that first time to God.
00:24:50.89\00:24:53.62
Yes. Precisely.
00:24:53.66\00:24:54.99
And that's why I said earlier,
00:24:55.02\00:24:56.36
we're going to see
how important in the days
00:24:56.39\00:24:58.43
we're living in,
00:24:58.46\00:24:59.79
in the days that we're just on
00:24:59.83\00:25:01.16
the precipice of
a time at trouble.
00:25:01.20\00:25:04.93
You know, there's an
early time at trouble,
00:25:04.97\00:25:07.47
and later a
greater time at trouble,
00:25:07.50\00:25:10.21
and how are we
going to get through that
00:25:10.24\00:25:11.84
if we're not filled
up fully with Jesus.
00:25:11.87\00:25:15.74
It says, "In thus doing,
00:25:15.78\00:25:18.05
you lead your
children to look upon prayer
00:25:18.08\00:25:20.32
as of no special consequence.
00:25:20.35\00:25:23.08
Prayer means very much
to the children of God.
00:25:23.12\00:25:26.52
And thank
offering should come up
00:25:26.55\00:25:28.56
before God morning,"
00:25:28.59\00:25:30.73
and we haven't touched on
this, "but in an evening,"
00:25:30.76\00:25:34.00
so we need time
with our children,
00:25:34.03\00:25:36.03
we need time, I
need our personal time,
00:25:36.06\00:25:38.80
and God should be
the first and the last
00:25:38.83\00:25:41.00
and everything in our lives.
00:25:41.04\00:25:42.70
Amen. Shall we
go on to step two?
00:25:42.74\00:25:44.44
Yeah.
00:25:44.47\00:25:45.81
You think about
that, was it Proverbs 8:17,
00:25:45.84\00:25:49.24
Lord tells us what, say,
He loves those who loves Him,
00:25:49.28\00:25:53.15
but you'll find
Him when you, what?
00:25:53.18\00:25:55.55
Seek. Seek early.
00:25:55.58\00:25:57.72
Early, when you seek
Him, you shall find Him,
00:25:57.75\00:25:59.79
so that's
important, you find Him,
00:25:59.82\00:26:02.12
that's a promise
in the Word of God,
00:26:02.16\00:26:03.49
and that's another point,
00:26:03.53\00:26:04.86
we'll be studying
more may if we get to it,
00:26:04.89\00:26:06.23
promises of God.
00:26:06.26\00:26:07.60
He said, "I'll find Him,
I love those who love me,
00:26:07.63\00:26:10.47
if you seek me
early, you will find me."
00:26:10.50\00:26:12.43
That's just a
beautiful promise is
00:26:12.47\00:26:14.60
that if you're really
looking for Him, you will find.
00:26:14.64\00:26:16.84
That's right. That's right.
00:26:16.87\00:26:18.44
You want to go with the
part, step number two, okay.
00:26:18.47\00:26:19.81
Just knock and He'll
answer. Yeah, step two.
00:26:19.84\00:26:23.21
All right.
00:26:23.24\00:26:24.58
"Give God
permission to take your heart,
00:26:24.61\00:26:26.65
consecrate
yourself to God every day."
00:26:26.68\00:26:29.78
It kind of goes back
00:26:29.82\00:26:31.15
to that house cleaning scenario.
00:26:31.19\00:26:33.86
You know, we go
into the water once
00:26:33.89\00:26:35.29
and we think, "Ah!
00:26:35.32\00:26:36.66
That's it."
00:26:36.69\00:26:38.03
In fact, we've actually baptized
00:26:38.06\00:26:39.39
whole families,
00:26:39.43\00:26:40.83
and they came to
church religiously
00:26:40.86\00:26:43.80
until the baptism,
00:26:43.83\00:26:45.80
and even though
we were teaching them
00:26:45.83\00:26:47.34
that this is a
walk of sanctification,
00:26:47.37\00:26:49.54
it's like they thought,
00:26:49.57\00:26:50.91
"Okay, now I'm saved,
00:26:50.94\00:26:52.27
I can go on
back to my old life."
00:26:52.31\00:26:54.84
Is that how it works? No.
00:26:54.88\00:26:56.85
No, it's a daily
struggle to daily battle.
00:26:56.88\00:26:59.55
But we've been
promised God's strength,
00:26:59.58\00:27:01.22
and God's accompanying
through each process,
00:27:01.25\00:27:03.08
but God can't go
where He's not invited.
00:27:03.12\00:27:05.55
And that's the point here
is that God needs permission,
00:27:05.59\00:27:07.66
He needs access daily to
do the work in you to will
00:27:07.69\00:27:11.09
and to do of His good pleasure,
00:27:11.13\00:27:12.46
but He can't go
where He is not invited,
00:27:12.49\00:27:14.26
that's what we're telling them.
00:27:14.30\00:27:16.16
Sanctification is
the work of a lifetime.
00:27:16.20\00:27:18.10
And it's not a once saved
always saved type of deal.
00:27:18.13\00:27:23.94
Let's say you
get married, right?
00:27:23.97\00:27:25.31
Well, you guys are married.
00:27:25.34\00:27:26.74
Let's say if on
that wedding day,
00:27:26.78\00:27:30.38
you know, you said I
do, and you said I do,
00:27:30.41\00:27:33.55
and then you just
treat this lovely young lady
00:27:33.58\00:27:37.99
over here anyway
you want, you go out,
00:27:38.02\00:27:40.96
and do whatever you want to do,
00:27:40.99\00:27:44.13
I mean, do you think
that's going to last.
00:27:44.16\00:27:45.89
How long? No.
It's not going to work.
00:27:45.93\00:27:48.66
No, so we have a
commitment to God.
00:27:48.70\00:27:53.77
And kind of, like,
marriage vows, if you will.
00:27:53.80\00:27:57.71
Yes.
00:27:57.74\00:27:59.21
And so we have to honor those.
00:27:59.24\00:28:01.84
And then I said daily,
it takes work everyday.
00:28:01.88\00:28:04.01
Because he is
talking about, where's it?
00:28:04.05\00:28:05.68
David, was it in Psalm 51,
00:28:05.71\00:28:07.95
when he said
create in me a, what?
00:28:07.98\00:28:11.69
So was he asking? Yeah.
00:28:11.72\00:28:14.22
To me, he was asking.
00:28:14.26\00:28:15.59
He was coming to
the throne room of God,
00:28:15.62\00:28:17.29
and he's saying,
"Please, create in me," right.
00:28:17.33\00:28:20.83
You know, talk about clean heart
00:28:20.86\00:28:22.20
and right spirit,
renew the right spirit in me.
00:28:22.23\00:28:25.33
To me, renew means
maybe he once had it,
00:28:25.37\00:28:27.17
and he lost it.
00:28:27.20\00:28:28.54
Yeah, and we can
be prone to lose it.
00:28:28.57\00:28:30.87
And I think that, that sense of,
00:28:30.91\00:28:32.87
you know, Paul says
in 1 Corinthians 10,
00:28:32.91\00:28:34.98
"Be careful, if you think
you stand, lest you fall."
00:28:35.01\00:28:38.21
Just because we've had
00:28:38.25\00:28:39.58
a mountaintop
experience with God,
00:28:39.61\00:28:40.95
doesn't mean we
won't have valleys.
00:28:40.98\00:28:42.65
And one of the
ways that we can survive
00:28:42.68\00:28:45.02
and thrive through those valleys
00:28:45.05\00:28:46.52
is by continually
depending upon God,
00:28:46.55\00:28:48.92
and relying upon God,
00:28:48.96\00:28:50.29
and asking Him to
transform our hearts,
00:28:50.33\00:28:52.23
to consecrate
ourselves to Him a fresh to say,
00:28:52.26\00:28:54.23
"Hey, I have a need, and
I can't supply this need,
00:28:54.26\00:28:56.90
I can't change my heart.
00:28:56.93\00:28:58.67
In fact, I can't
even fully give it to you,
00:28:58.70\00:29:00.37
but I can give you
permission to take it."
00:29:00.40\00:29:02.04
Ellen White says
that in Steps to Christ.
00:29:02.07\00:29:03.91
And that's, yeah, we
need that reminder a lot.
00:29:03.94\00:29:07.28
So really we
need that permission,
00:29:07.31\00:29:09.11
we need to give God, I
mean, this may sound strange,
00:29:09.14\00:29:11.78
I don't know, but a
lot of people are saying,
00:29:11.81\00:29:13.15
"We have to
give Him permission."
00:29:13.18\00:29:14.52
But it's true,
because He's not...
00:29:14.55\00:29:16.85
Does He just bud in?
That's ultimate, that's love.
00:29:16.89\00:29:19.95
That is love.
00:29:19.99\00:29:21.32
He's not a
controlling God, you know.
00:29:21.36\00:29:23.96
We're not puppets. No.
00:29:23.99\00:29:25.66
No, we're not.
We're not puppets.
00:29:25.69\00:29:27.03
No, He's given each of
us free will, you know.
00:29:27.06\00:29:29.56
And if we don't make a
choice, we made our choice.
00:29:29.60\00:29:33.20
You know, in our inaction,
that's a form of action.
00:29:33.23\00:29:36.27
It is. It is.
00:29:36.30\00:29:37.64
I've often said, honey,
00:29:37.67\00:29:39.07
this in working,
sometime, with people,
00:29:39.11\00:29:42.41
I say there, see how
simple this might be.
00:29:42.44\00:29:44.81
I said, you know,
there's three things.
00:29:44.85\00:29:47.35
It's not work your way,
00:29:47.38\00:29:48.72
but if you would
do these three things,
00:29:48.75\00:29:50.09
kind of like,
00:29:50.12\00:29:51.45
we're studying
here a process here,
00:29:51.49\00:29:52.82
you will never backslide,
00:29:52.85\00:29:54.59
you will never lose
your connection with Christ.
00:29:54.62\00:29:56.83
Three things.
00:29:56.86\00:29:58.19
And they're going, "Three?
00:29:58.23\00:29:59.56
I'll never
backslide, I will never..."
00:29:59.59\00:30:00.93
They said, "Now what is it?"
00:30:00.96\00:30:02.30
I said simply,
00:30:02.33\00:30:03.67
"Look at the
sanctuary, what did you do?"
00:30:03.70\00:30:05.33
You studied the word everyday
we're talking about here,
00:30:05.37\00:30:08.30
you pray
everyday, and you witness.
00:30:08.34\00:30:11.37
Those three things,
00:30:11.41\00:30:12.87
if you keep
those alive constantly
00:30:12.91\00:30:15.64
everyday of your life,
00:30:15.68\00:30:17.01
you will never, never backslide.
00:30:17.05\00:30:18.81
You can't do it while
00:30:18.85\00:30:20.18
you're studying,
praying, and witnessing.
00:30:20.22\00:30:22.35
It's an impossibility.
00:30:22.38\00:30:23.72
But when you begin backslide,
you've led one of those things,
00:30:23.75\00:30:27.26
just even one of them go,
and you start to backslide.
00:30:27.29\00:30:30.86
And then it means
the others gonna let go,
00:30:30.89\00:30:32.26
and then certainly
the third one will be out.
00:30:32.29\00:30:34.43
So this is important
here in our consecration,
00:30:34.46\00:30:38.10
permission to God to come in.
00:30:38.13\00:30:40.40
Let Him do what He wants to
do. I like how Joshua put it.
00:30:40.44\00:30:43.20
In Joshua 24:15, it says,
00:30:43.24\00:30:46.24
"And if it seem evil
unto you to serve the Lord"
00:30:46.27\00:30:48.98
because for some people it does.
00:30:49.01\00:30:50.61
They don't want
to be part of it.
00:30:50.65\00:30:52.71
It says, "Choose you
this day whom you will serve,"
00:30:52.75\00:30:55.72
hence our title
of this Bible study
00:30:55.75\00:30:57.52
tonight or today,
00:30:57.55\00:30:59.52
"Choose you this day",
00:30:59.55\00:31:01.56
"Whether the gods
which your fathers served
00:31:01.59\00:31:04.99
and were on the
other side of the flood."
00:31:05.03\00:31:08.46
You know, even though
we're a little bit further
00:31:08.50\00:31:10.60
hence from the flood,
00:31:10.63\00:31:11.97
it's still a lot of things
00:31:12.00\00:31:13.44
we find that our
families, our fathers,
00:31:13.47\00:31:15.40
our mothers are
serving other gods today,
00:31:15.44\00:31:17.47
you know, so you're
going to serve those gods,
00:31:17.51\00:31:19.74
you know, it might be alcohol,
my real dad was an alcoholic.
00:31:19.77\00:31:23.35
And that was the
god that he served,
00:31:23.38\00:31:25.21
and he couldn't
let go of, you know.
00:31:25.25\00:31:27.42
So "Choose you this day,
00:31:27.45\00:31:29.55
or the gods of the Amorites
in which land you dwell,"
00:31:29.58\00:31:32.75
but I like this last part,
00:31:32.79\00:31:34.42
"but," and I pray, pray, pray,
00:31:34.46\00:31:36.69
that you will
00:31:36.73\00:31:38.89
take this last
part to your own heart,
00:31:38.93\00:31:41.03
and pray it to claim it,
00:31:41.06\00:31:43.13
"but as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord."
00:31:43.16\00:31:48.07
And as Christians, our home,
00:31:48.10\00:31:50.97
you know, those
who come into our home,
00:31:51.01\00:31:53.31
you know, they need to know
that as for us and our house,
00:31:53.34\00:31:57.71
we're serving
the Lord, you know.
00:31:57.75\00:32:01.02
But I can remember back,
00:32:01.05\00:32:02.38
my mother made
before she passed away,
00:32:02.42\00:32:04.55
she made just a little,
I don't know what you call,
00:32:04.59\00:32:06.82
it's sewing to
sew whatever it is,
00:32:06.86\00:32:09.36
and embroidery whatever,
00:32:09.39\00:32:11.93
and that was the passage
00:32:11.96\00:32:14.10
that she want to
instill in my mind
00:32:14.13\00:32:15.53
as far as me and my
house, we will serve the Lord.
00:32:15.56\00:32:18.53
I thought, how wonderful,
00:32:18.57\00:32:19.90
I still have
that little plaques,
00:32:19.93\00:32:21.27
you put a little frame
around and that means a lot,
00:32:21.30\00:32:23.51
and it's meant a lot
as far as me and my house,
00:32:23.54\00:32:25.97
that's a commitment
that you have to make
00:32:26.01\00:32:28.28
in your home.
00:32:28.31\00:32:29.64
There's a husband or,
you know, it's in your home,
00:32:29.68\00:32:31.55
whatever it might be.
00:32:31.58\00:32:32.91
We had to make
that commitment to God
00:32:32.95\00:32:34.38
that we're going to serve Him.
00:32:34.42\00:32:35.75
Amen. Choose to serve Him.
00:32:35.78\00:32:37.49
And I love 2 Corinthians,
00:32:37.52\00:32:39.42
you guys, or one of
you guys want to read
00:32:39.45\00:32:40.79
that 2 Corinthians 5:17?
00:32:40.82\00:32:43.46
You know, so often...
00:32:43.49\00:32:46.06
In fact, we just
were confronted with this.
00:32:46.09\00:32:48.86
You know, Jesus
says, "Come as you are,"
00:32:48.90\00:32:52.33
but are you left that way?
00:32:52.37\00:32:54.94
Second Corinthians 5:17.
00:32:54.97\00:32:57.14
Yeah, it says,
00:32:57.17\00:32:58.71
"Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ,
00:32:58.74\00:33:00.71
he is a new creation,
old things have passed away,
00:33:00.74\00:33:04.15
behold, all
things have become new."
00:33:04.18\00:33:06.75
Isn't that beautiful?
00:33:06.78\00:33:08.25
That is so beautiful
00:33:08.28\00:33:09.62
'cause a lot of people
come just out of curiosity,
00:33:09.65\00:33:13.86
but there's some
00:33:13.89\00:33:15.22
that are carrying heavy burdens,
00:33:15.26\00:33:17.96
you know, they've experienced
00:33:17.99\00:33:19.53
some of these
things in this world
00:33:19.56\00:33:21.66
that do not bring
lasting happiness or peace.
00:33:21.70\00:33:26.67
In fact, you
know, just not long ago,
00:33:26.70\00:33:29.44
there were
people out in Las Vegas,
00:33:29.47\00:33:31.84
they're for a concert.
00:33:31.87\00:33:34.11
And they were having
00:33:34.14\00:33:35.48
what they
considered a happy time,
00:33:35.51\00:33:38.81
and yet 58 souls
00:33:38.85\00:33:41.28
did not come out
of that little area,
00:33:41.32\00:33:45.35
and about 500
were injured bad enough
00:33:45.39\00:33:48.96
to even be
taken to the hospital,
00:33:48.99\00:33:51.39
so people are living in fear,
00:33:51.43\00:33:54.66
and they're beginning to realize
00:33:54.70\00:33:56.03
"Hey, this is it what
it's supposed to be like.
00:33:56.06\00:33:58.77
Is there something better?"
00:33:58.80\00:34:00.94
And Jesus says, "Yes, there is.
00:34:00.97\00:34:03.51
If you come to
Me just as you are,
00:34:03.54\00:34:06.91
come to Me with
all your baggage,
00:34:06.94\00:34:08.88
but I'm going to
make you a new creature.
00:34:08.91\00:34:11.35
All those old things
are going to pass away,
00:34:11.38\00:34:14.58
behold all things
are going to become new."
00:34:14.62\00:34:17.45
The things that we once
liked, now we don't like.
00:34:17.49\00:34:21.32
The things that we
once hated, now we love.
00:34:21.36\00:34:25.09
We want to spend time,
waking up in the morning,
00:34:25.13\00:34:28.40
we want to give Him our heart.
00:34:28.43\00:34:30.20
This is step two,
we want Him to take it.
00:34:30.23\00:34:32.80
We want to be new in Jesus.
00:34:32.83\00:34:34.54
We want that
peace, think about it.
00:34:34.57\00:34:37.64
"Though I walked
through the valley
00:34:37.67\00:34:39.01
of the shadow of death
00:34:39.04\00:34:40.38
I shall fear no
evil," that's what we want.
00:34:40.41\00:34:44.31
We're talking permission,
or can another word be consent?
00:34:44.35\00:34:48.05
I've heard, maybe
discuss this little bit is,
00:34:48.08\00:34:51.49
I've heard people who say
00:34:51.52\00:34:52.85
when they pray
00:34:52.89\00:34:54.22
and they give
permission to come in,
00:34:54.26\00:34:55.96
and change my heart and life.
00:34:55.99\00:34:57.73
They say when
they're praying this consent,
00:34:57.76\00:35:00.93
they say it out loud,
they pray it out loud,
00:35:00.96\00:35:04.17
so the enemy, he's
always listening in,
00:35:04.20\00:35:07.27
so the enemy can hear
00:35:07.30\00:35:09.04
that you have
committed your will,
00:35:09.07\00:35:11.97
your mind, your
body, mind, soul, body
00:35:12.01\00:35:14.64
to the creator
of heaven and earth.
00:35:14.68\00:35:17.25
Therefore, the enemy
knows right off the reel
00:35:17.28\00:35:19.38
if you've done that from a mind,
00:35:19.41\00:35:20.85
you know, it's
always focused upon God
00:35:20.88\00:35:24.59
that the enemy
00:35:24.62\00:35:25.95
then have a
difficult time to get to you.
00:35:25.99\00:35:28.86
And of course,
00:35:28.89\00:35:30.23
the Holy Spirit
knows when we pray,
00:35:30.26\00:35:31.59
you know, certainly but
there are real believer,
00:35:31.63\00:35:34.00
what do you think about it,
00:35:34.03\00:35:35.36
you know, it's not something
00:35:35.40\00:35:36.73
we have to do or
something maybe we should do
00:35:36.77\00:35:38.33
just to consent out loud,
00:35:38.37\00:35:40.50
I give God
permission to take my will,
00:35:40.54\00:35:43.47
to take my body,
my mind, everything,
00:35:43.51\00:35:46.91
and use it in His service today,
00:35:46.94\00:35:48.31
what do you think?
00:35:48.34\00:35:49.71
I think there's power in
the proclaimed Word of God.
00:35:49.74\00:35:51.85
And I think that,
00:35:51.88\00:35:53.21
you know, in the sense
of taking a stand for God,
00:35:53.25\00:35:54.92
one of the things
I found great help
00:35:54.95\00:35:56.72
in when it comes praying daily
00:35:56.75\00:35:58.65
is it's easy for
your mind to wander
00:35:58.69\00:36:00.29
when you're just
praying internally,
00:36:00.32\00:36:01.66
even when you're reading.
00:36:01.69\00:36:03.02
And one of the things
I do as I read out loud
00:36:03.06\00:36:05.06
but just under my breath.
00:36:05.09\00:36:06.66
Just enough so that I'm actually
00:36:06.70\00:36:08.03
hearing and reading, I'm
engaging more of my senses,
00:36:08.06\00:36:10.37
I'm more immersed
in what I'm reading.
00:36:10.40\00:36:12.33
And I do the
same whenever I pray,
00:36:12.37\00:36:13.70
like when I walk in the mornings
00:36:13.74\00:36:15.07
is the same idea is just,
00:36:15.10\00:36:16.44
it keeps my mind more
focused, more diligent,
00:36:16.47\00:36:20.24
and I'm thinking
about what I'm saying
00:36:20.28\00:36:21.84
is just having a go
on, like I've had times
00:36:21.88\00:36:23.61
where I sit down
in front of my Bible.
00:36:23.65\00:36:25.25
And what comes out
in front of my mouth
00:36:25.28\00:36:26.68
or what comes out of my mouth
is thanking God for my food,
00:36:26.72\00:36:29.35
like because you just
do muscle memory prayer,
00:36:29.38\00:36:32.29
it's like you
forget, like I'm sitting
00:36:32.32\00:36:33.66
I should be
praying about something
00:36:33.69\00:36:35.02
and that comes out,
00:36:35.06\00:36:36.39
but when I stop, and
think, and pray out loud,
00:36:36.42\00:36:39.63
I find myself being
a little more cognizant
00:36:39.66\00:36:42.40
of what I'm trying to say,
00:36:42.43\00:36:43.77
and what I'm wanting
to do in more disciplined,
00:36:43.80\00:36:45.27
if that makes sense.
00:36:45.30\00:36:46.63
And I find this
to be very helpful
00:36:46.67\00:36:48.00
to pray audibly,
00:36:48.04\00:36:50.41
and to try to catch myself
00:36:50.44\00:36:52.24
if I had fallen to
that muscle memory.
00:36:52.27\00:36:54.14
One of the reasons
00:36:54.18\00:36:55.51
I'd say I bring that
up is because we realize,
00:36:55.54\00:36:57.85
I think it's
Ministry of Healing,
00:36:57.88\00:36:59.21
that talks about
00:36:59.25\00:37:00.58
that the enemy
cannot read our mind
00:37:00.62\00:37:03.08
and cannot read our thoughts
00:37:03.12\00:37:04.95
but he can sure
look at the actions,
00:37:04.99\00:37:07.62
tell what's going on.
00:37:07.66\00:37:08.99
So that's why they say,
00:37:09.02\00:37:10.53
I'm saying this out
loud so that the enemy knows
00:37:10.56\00:37:12.63
whose side I'm on and
who I choose this day.
00:37:12.66\00:37:15.10
And see, for me,
like a lot of times
00:37:15.13\00:37:17.00
I'll pray silently unless
00:37:17.03\00:37:18.73
I'm praying in a group
or something like that,
00:37:18.77\00:37:21.17
but I know God is so powerful.
00:37:21.20\00:37:25.57
And whether I pray
out loud or silently,
00:37:25.61\00:37:28.31
His power is
going to be manifested,
00:37:28.34\00:37:29.98
and the enemy is going to see
that regardless in the actions,
00:37:30.01\00:37:34.32
you know, and
there was something
00:37:34.35\00:37:37.75
I wanted to
comment on from earlier
00:37:37.79\00:37:39.62
that we were
talking about where,
00:37:39.65\00:37:43.22
basically in 2
Corinthians 5:17, word says,
00:37:43.26\00:37:46.39
"Therefore, if
any man be in Christ,
00:37:46.43\00:37:48.03
he is a new creature,
old things are passed away,
00:37:48.06\00:37:50.17
behold, all
things are become new."
00:37:50.20\00:37:53.47
You know, a lot of times
00:37:53.50\00:37:55.00
where the enemy
wants people to think
00:37:55.04\00:37:57.61
that you've done too much,
00:37:57.64\00:37:59.97
you've gone too far,
you can't go to Christ now,
00:38:00.01\00:38:03.95
you know, you have
to be perfect first
00:38:03.98\00:38:05.78
before you can go to Christ.
00:38:05.81\00:38:07.72
But the bottom line
and the truth of the matter
00:38:07.75\00:38:10.49
is that Jesus wants
all of us to come to Him.
00:38:10.52\00:38:16.22
He's longing for
us to come to Him,
00:38:16.26\00:38:19.56
and He's not going to leave
us the way that He finds us.
00:38:19.59\00:38:22.43
Amen. Praise the God.
00:38:22.46\00:38:23.80
He wants to make us new.
00:38:23.83\00:38:26.20
You can't wait
till you're perfect,
00:38:26.23\00:38:29.17
don't procrastinate,
00:38:29.20\00:38:30.64
you don't know when that time
or probation is going to close,
00:38:30.67\00:38:33.51
those poor people that
were at that concert...
00:38:33.54\00:38:35.48
Oh, mercy.
00:38:35.51\00:38:36.85
You know, they had no idea
00:38:36.88\00:38:38.21
that when they
walked up the door that day,
00:38:38.25\00:38:40.72
that that was
going to be the last time
00:38:40.75\00:38:43.39
they ever did that.
00:38:43.42\00:38:44.92
And it just speaks
to the sense of urgency
00:38:44.95\00:38:48.89
of why people need
to give their hearts
00:38:48.92\00:38:50.76
to the Lord, now.
00:38:50.79\00:38:52.13
Amen. Absolutely.
00:38:52.16\00:38:53.86
Amen, I think it's
imperative and wisdom,
00:38:53.90\00:38:56.33
that's why He's
choose you this day
00:38:56.36\00:38:58.07
who you will serve,
00:38:58.10\00:38:59.43
you know, today is
the day of salvation.
00:38:59.47\00:39:00.87
We don't know what
we're going to face,
00:39:00.90\00:39:02.24
and that's why I think
starting your day with God
00:39:02.27\00:39:04.34
and making these
commitments is so important
00:39:04.37\00:39:07.58
because, you know,
00:39:07.61\00:39:09.08
it wouldn't make any
sense for a soldier to go out,
00:39:09.11\00:39:12.01
and fight with no armor all day,
00:39:12.05\00:39:13.42
and just hope
that he would survive,
00:39:13.45\00:39:14.88
and then come home,
00:39:14.92\00:39:16.25
and put armor on
before he went to bed.
00:39:16.28\00:39:17.75
It wouldn't make any sense.
00:39:17.79\00:39:19.12
And this is one of the means
00:39:19.15\00:39:20.49
through which you
fortify and strengthen yourself
00:39:20.52\00:39:22.12
for the day's battles.
00:39:22.16\00:39:23.66
I do both, I do
morning and evening,
00:39:23.69\00:39:25.39
but at the bare
minimum, start your day with God
00:39:25.43\00:39:28.03
because you don't know
what you're going run into,
00:39:28.06\00:39:30.27
you don't know what this
world is coming at you with,
00:39:30.30\00:39:32.37
and it's so, so important for us
00:39:32.40\00:39:34.44
to recognize,
00:39:34.47\00:39:35.80
this isn't
legalism, this is not,
00:39:35.84\00:39:37.17
"I'm doing this so
that God will like me,"
00:39:37.21\00:39:38.54
that's not the point at all.
00:39:38.57\00:39:39.91
I have a need,
00:39:39.94\00:39:41.28
I'm living in the midst
of the real battlefield,
00:39:41.31\00:39:43.28
I desperately need Jesus.
00:39:43.31\00:39:44.98
That's what this
whole process is about.
00:39:45.01\00:39:46.51
It's receiving Jesus,
00:39:46.55\00:39:48.32
and letting
Jesus live through me,
00:39:48.35\00:39:49.92
and fight for me on my
battles from day to day.
00:39:49.95\00:39:52.02
Amen.
00:39:52.05\00:39:53.49
And part of this walk
00:39:53.52\00:39:55.19
and part of what
we were talking about
00:39:55.22\00:39:56.56
is because when we come, a
lot of times we don't realize
00:39:56.59\00:39:59.73
that draws that we're carrying.
00:39:59.76\00:40:02.03
No being now
sent in the kingdom.
00:40:02.06\00:40:04.30
So Jesus is wanting
to recreate a new heart,
00:40:04.33\00:40:07.30
a new life within us.
00:40:07.34\00:40:09.00
And of course, some due
come, and they want to change,
00:40:09.04\00:40:11.74
and so they're
struggling with that change.
00:40:11.77\00:40:14.54
We were just in Virginia,
and we had a lovely lady
00:40:14.58\00:40:18.51
that came to some
meetings, her name was Anna Joy,
00:40:18.55\00:40:21.42
and she had been coming
to this church for years
00:40:21.45\00:40:24.55
but she never
made that commitment
00:40:24.59\00:40:26.79
to go all the way with Jesus.
00:40:26.82\00:40:29.02
And she was
feeling the Holy Spirit's
00:40:29.06\00:40:32.69
prompting in a heavy,
heavy way, very convicted.
00:40:32.73\00:40:36.53
And I found out the week
that we were going to present
00:40:36.56\00:40:41.20
the message on baptism
00:40:41.24\00:40:43.20
that she was
going to go on vacation,
00:40:43.24\00:40:45.27
and she would be gone right
00:40:45.31\00:40:47.48
when we were going
to have the baptism.
00:40:47.51\00:40:50.21
So I just felt the
prompting of the Holy Spirit
00:40:50.25\00:40:53.42
to sit and talk with her
at the beginning of that week.
00:40:53.45\00:40:56.38
And I knew that
God's spirit was there.
00:40:56.42\00:40:59.32
I mean, it even brought
tears to both of our eyes,
00:40:59.35\00:41:02.19
and you could
feel Him convicting her
00:41:02.22\00:41:05.49
that this is
what she needed to do.
00:41:05.53\00:41:07.63
But the next day
I tried to call her,
00:41:07.66\00:41:10.57
I thought, you know what,
00:41:10.60\00:41:11.93
if she cannot be
there on Sabbath,
00:41:11.97\00:41:15.44
she could may be, be
there Wednesday night.
00:41:15.47\00:41:17.54
And we can have a
baptism Wednesday night.
00:41:17.57\00:41:20.44
So I tried all day
till Tuesday, no answer.
00:41:20.48\00:41:23.04
I called some friends
of hers in the church.
00:41:23.08\00:41:25.41
I said, "Hey, will you
try to get a hold of her?"
00:41:25.45\00:41:27.92
"Wouldn't answer
the phone, no contact."
00:41:27.95\00:41:30.32
And so Wednesday came, she
didn't come to the meeting.
00:41:30.35\00:41:33.15
I felt, "What has happened?
00:41:33.19\00:41:35.02
I know the Holy
Spirit was involved in that.
00:41:35.06\00:41:38.56
What happened?"
00:41:38.59\00:41:39.93
You know, and
you're beating yourself up.
00:41:39.96\00:41:41.30
Well, if I just
not said anything,
00:41:41.33\00:41:42.86
should I not have said anything?
00:41:42.90\00:41:44.43
Maybe she would have been here,
00:41:44.47\00:41:45.80
she might have
heard the message,
00:41:45.83\00:41:47.17
and she might have
come up on her own and say,
00:41:47.20\00:41:48.64
"I want another way
00:41:48.67\00:41:50.01
or I'm not going on
a vacation right away."
00:41:50.04\00:41:52.14
And then Thursday morning came,
00:41:52.17\00:41:54.18
I send her a quick little text
00:41:54.21\00:41:55.78
just something to
start her day with.
00:41:55.81\00:41:58.95
And pretty soon, she
started texting back.
00:41:58.98\00:42:01.82
Later on, she
knocked at our door.
00:42:01.85\00:42:04.65
And she came in, she said,
00:42:04.69\00:42:07.59
"Do you believe
God's made another way?"
00:42:07.62\00:42:09.99
Well.
00:42:10.03\00:42:11.56
And I'm thinking in my mind,
00:42:11.59\00:42:12.93
"Well, yeah, that was yesterday.
00:42:12.96\00:42:16.23
There's no time for
the baptismal tank now,
00:42:16.26\00:42:18.33
it was yesterday."
00:42:18.37\00:42:19.70
And she says, "No,
do you believe it?"
00:42:19.73\00:42:21.54
She said, "My
neighbors would think I'm crazy,
00:42:21.57\00:42:23.64
but I think you
were going to tell me
00:42:23.67\00:42:26.34
that He's made another way."
00:42:26.37\00:42:28.74
And I said, "Yes,
He's made another way."
00:42:28.78\00:42:30.91
She said, "I failed that test."
00:42:30.95\00:42:32.91
The enemy was just bringing back
00:42:32.95\00:42:34.48
all these things
that I am so bad at.
00:42:34.52\00:42:36.79
She said, "I even felt suicidal,
00:42:36.82\00:42:38.99
and I failed the test."
00:42:39.02\00:42:40.96
But today is another day.
00:42:40.99\00:42:42.66
If God's made
another way, and He said
00:42:42.69\00:42:44.33
we could go to
river if you want.
00:42:44.36\00:42:45.69
She said, "The river,
I'll call you in a minute
00:42:45.73\00:42:47.53
if I decide."
00:42:47.56\00:42:48.90
She wasn't gone 10 minutes,
and she started texting,
00:42:48.93\00:42:51.57
"I want to go to the river."
00:42:51.60\00:42:52.93
Go down to the
river, be baptized, yeah.
00:42:52.97\00:42:55.47
And it was just
amazing to see God take.
00:42:55.50\00:42:59.57
But that's just a beginning.
00:42:59.61\00:43:01.18
And this is how we
continue to walk in that walk,
00:43:01.21\00:43:04.68
that walk of sanctification.
00:43:04.71\00:43:06.65
And if you don't mind
00:43:06.68\00:43:08.58
if I could just read
from Bible commentary,
00:43:08.62\00:43:11.85
because we need to try to
at least get to three steps.
00:43:11.89\00:43:15.16
Before time runs out,
00:43:15.19\00:43:16.52
we're going to give
them all six points.
00:43:16.56\00:43:17.89
Okay, we'll do that.
00:43:17.93\00:43:19.26
I'm going to have the
gentlemen to be sure and hold
00:43:19.29\00:43:20.63
on this material
because, you know,
00:43:20.66\00:43:22.00
we might be able
to come back sometime
00:43:22.03\00:43:23.37
and do the second part
00:43:23.40\00:43:24.73
because there's too
much material here to let go.
00:43:24.77\00:43:26.50
And to me to go through quickly.
00:43:26.53\00:43:28.57
I never did like
to go through quickly,
00:43:28.60\00:43:30.14
I was always kind of
slow studier, you know.
00:43:30.17\00:43:31.94
Yeah.
00:43:31.97\00:43:33.31
But there's so much. Yes.
00:43:33.34\00:43:34.68
That we read the passage,
and we read another over here
00:43:34.71\00:43:36.85
that just ads and it bills.
00:43:36.88\00:43:38.21
And pretty soon
when you get done,
00:43:38.25\00:43:39.58
you know that this is the truth,
00:43:39.61\00:43:41.32
you know this is the
way to in which to do it.
00:43:41.35\00:43:43.35
And this is so
important. Go ahead.
00:43:43.39\00:43:44.79
Amen.
00:43:44.82\00:43:46.69
So this is found in
seven Bible commentary.
00:43:46.72\00:43:49.49
It says, "Jesus asked us to
consecrate ourselves to Him.
00:43:49.52\00:43:53.36
He has played signal
honor upon the human race."
00:43:53.40\00:43:56.87
He says, "As
many as received Him,
00:43:56.90\00:43:59.07
to them gave He power
to become the sons of God."
00:43:59.10\00:44:04.37
That's what He
wants to anoint you
00:44:04.41\00:44:05.74
with every
morning, every evening.
00:44:05.77\00:44:08.04
He wants to overshadow
you with His protection,
00:44:08.08\00:44:11.78
His Holy angels.
00:44:11.81\00:44:13.62
"Even to them that
believe on His name
00:44:13.65\00:44:16.22
shall we not then give to Christ
00:44:16.25\00:44:18.95
that which He
has died to redeem.
00:44:18.99\00:44:21.62
If you will do
this, He will quicken,
00:44:21.66\00:44:23.99
He will bring it back
to life, your conscious,
00:44:24.03\00:44:26.73
renew your heart,
sanctify your affections,
00:44:26.76\00:44:30.17
purify your thoughts,
00:44:30.20\00:44:31.53
and set all your
powers at work for Him.
00:44:31.57\00:44:34.84
Every motive,
listen to this guys."
00:44:34.87\00:44:37.14
"Every motive and every thought
00:44:37.17\00:44:39.07
will be brought into
captivity to Jesus Christ."
00:44:39.11\00:44:43.38
The motives of our heart,
how we react to one and other,
00:44:43.41\00:44:47.18
you mentioned marriage,
00:44:47.22\00:44:48.55
how we speak to
each other in the home,
00:44:48.58\00:44:51.25
you know, even our
thoughts will change.
00:44:51.29\00:44:55.56
They won't be
carnal as they once were.
00:44:55.59\00:44:58.69
He's preparing
us for the kingdom.
00:44:58.73\00:45:01.40
Why don't you
introduce step three, Pastor.
00:45:01.43\00:45:03.67
Okay, that's a
little thought there first.
00:45:03.70\00:45:05.30
And if you guys have a thought
on this before we move on,
00:45:05.33\00:45:07.37
be sure to bring it up,
00:45:07.40\00:45:08.74
because I know
in Steps to Christ,
00:45:08.77\00:45:10.11
you know, page 70 talks about,
00:45:10.14\00:45:12.17
you know, every morning
consecrate yourself to God.
00:45:12.21\00:45:16.34
And when you
consecrate yourself to God,
00:45:16.38\00:45:18.41
you come and tell Him
00:45:18.45\00:45:19.78
just exactly how
you're feeling about it.
00:45:19.81\00:45:21.62
You know, you
just explain to Him,
00:45:21.65\00:45:23.05
you know, I need
some help for today.
00:45:23.08\00:45:25.15
Yes, absolutely.
00:45:25.19\00:45:26.52
I need a touch for today,
00:45:26.55\00:45:27.89
you know, I want to
be victorious today.
00:45:27.92\00:45:29.46
And when we do that,
and we bring it to Him,
00:45:29.49\00:45:31.43
these thoughts, He would
do something fantastic for us,
00:45:31.46\00:45:34.36
He will give us that victory,
He will use us for that day.
00:45:34.40\00:45:38.03
And I want to be used,
I know, every body here
00:45:38.07\00:45:40.07
wants to be used of
God in a special way.
00:45:40.10\00:45:42.34
Absolutely.
00:45:42.37\00:45:44.24
Okay, was it three
you got? Step three.
00:45:44.27\00:45:45.84
Okay.
00:45:45.87\00:45:47.54
Each morning,
what are we to claim?
00:45:47.58\00:45:49.41
Well, it says to claim
the gifts that Jesus used,
00:45:49.44\00:45:52.21
so that's been our...
00:45:52.25\00:45:53.58
He received.
00:45:53.62\00:45:54.95
Received, that's
been our focus is
00:45:54.98\00:45:56.69
He's our example
as we started out.
00:45:56.72\00:45:58.85
And very few people realize,
and they look at, what was it,
00:45:58.89\00:46:01.92
four we jotted down
that four of those things
00:46:01.96\00:46:04.89
that Jesus used in His life.
00:46:04.93\00:46:07.30
And therefore, I know
I need those in my life.
00:46:07.33\00:46:10.03
And so let's look at
those four real quick.
00:46:10.07\00:46:12.50
Oh, what's number one, Jason?
00:46:12.53\00:46:15.07
Number one is
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:46:15.10\00:46:17.84
Oh, glory, yes.
00:46:17.87\00:46:20.64
John 14:26, I'm
gonna get to 14 here.
00:46:20.68\00:46:26.58
Do you have it, Dee? Yeah.
00:46:26.61\00:46:28.32
It says, "But the helper..."
00:46:28.35\00:46:32.19
I just lost it.
00:46:32.22\00:46:33.56
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit
00:46:33.59\00:46:34.92
whom the Father
will send in my name,
00:46:34.96\00:46:36.42
He will teach you all things
and bring to your remembrance
00:46:36.46\00:46:39.59
all things that I said to you."
00:46:39.63\00:46:42.03
Could you read 27 as well? Sure.
00:46:42.06\00:46:44.87
"Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give to you.
00:46:44.90\00:46:49.00
Not as the world
gives do I give to you.
00:46:49.04\00:46:51.17
And let not your
heart be troubled,
00:46:51.21\00:46:53.04
neither let it be afraid."
00:46:53.07\00:46:55.41
Notice, He is not asking
us to create our own peace.
00:46:55.44\00:46:58.35
He's asking us to
receive His peace.
00:46:58.38\00:47:01.25
And it's not as the world gives,
00:47:01.28\00:47:02.65
it's far above
what we could ask for.
00:47:02.68\00:47:04.79
And later, we're told I think
in one of the Paul's writings.
00:47:04.82\00:47:06.86
It says the peace that surpasses
00:47:06.89\00:47:08.22
all understanding.
00:47:08.26\00:47:10.39
And that's a good news,
00:47:10.43\00:47:11.89
because I deal with a
lot of hardship in life,
00:47:11.93\00:47:13.70
I don't know about you.
00:47:13.73\00:47:15.06
Oh, absolutely,
yeah. Yes, test and trial.
00:47:15.10\00:47:16.90
Well, I think it's
Christ's Object Lesson,
00:47:16.93\00:47:18.33
it says Christ
received a fresh baptism
00:47:18.37\00:47:21.17
of the Holy Spirit
every day early in the morning
00:47:21.20\00:47:24.67
when He went out to pray.
00:47:24.71\00:47:26.51
And I thought how
beautiful that really is
00:47:26.54\00:47:29.14
because lot of
people are living a stale,
00:47:29.18\00:47:31.48
bless your heart,
Christian, you know, walk.
00:47:31.51\00:47:34.22
It's stale, they're
living 20 years in the past,
00:47:34.25\00:47:36.42
and then they're trying to
bring that up to the future,
00:47:36.45\00:47:38.75
but every day can
be fresh in Christ,
00:47:38.79\00:47:42.09
every day can be a fresh
anointing of the Holy Spirit
00:47:42.12\00:47:45.16
which we have fresh
thoughts, and fresh motives,
00:47:45.19\00:47:47.70
and fresh actions,
00:47:47.73\00:47:49.40
you know, fresh reaching
out and touching people for Him.
00:47:49.43\00:47:53.64
That's what Jesus
did, He prayed for that,
00:47:53.67\00:47:56.14
and the Holy Spirit came.
00:47:56.17\00:47:57.51
We can pray, and the Holy Spirit
00:47:57.54\00:47:58.87
will come to us too.
00:47:58.91\00:48:00.24
You know, He prayed
for His lips, and His mind,
00:48:00.28\00:48:02.84
His heart to be
anointed by the Spirit
00:48:02.88\00:48:04.88
so the words that He would speak
00:48:04.91\00:48:06.25
will be life
and light to people.
00:48:06.28\00:48:07.82
And that's what we need to do,
00:48:07.85\00:48:09.22
you know, I know
I need to do that,
00:48:09.25\00:48:10.59
I need to pray that
He will anoint my mind.
00:48:10.62\00:48:12.75
I don't want the old
mind, I want the new mind,
00:48:12.79\00:48:14.62
I don't want the old lips,
I want the new one else down.
00:48:14.66\00:48:17.59
And I love that
what he read in verse 27,
00:48:17.63\00:48:21.60
"Let not your heart be troubled,
00:48:21.63\00:48:24.07
neither let it be afraid."
00:48:24.10\00:48:26.27
I mean, we're living in a time,
00:48:26.30\00:48:28.44
it's fearful to
go in your own home
00:48:28.47\00:48:30.91
by yourself at times.
00:48:30.94\00:48:32.87
You know, I
remember a lady that,
00:48:32.91\00:48:34.94
in a church not far
from here, years ago,
00:48:34.98\00:48:38.81
she started to go in
her home in Pittsburg,
00:48:38.85\00:48:41.25
Illinois which you know
that's not very far from here.
00:48:41.28\00:48:43.72
And something told
her, "Don't go in,"
00:48:43.75\00:48:47.29
and she listened
00:48:47.32\00:48:48.66
because she
recognized the voice of God,
00:48:48.69\00:48:51.83
and she didn't go in,
00:48:51.86\00:48:53.19
and they later found
out that there was a man
00:48:53.23\00:48:55.53
hiding in their closet
to destroy that family.
00:48:55.56\00:49:00.10
Wow. Yes.
00:49:00.14\00:49:01.84
So we need to learn to listen.
00:49:01.87\00:49:04.17
And you won't know God's voice
00:49:04.21\00:49:05.77
if we're not
taking time with Him.
00:49:05.81\00:49:08.08
But the peace, in
amidst of a storm,
00:49:08.11\00:49:11.01
we live in a place...
00:49:11.05\00:49:12.48
I remember as a
child, I used to think,
00:49:12.51\00:49:14.35
"Boy, I'm glad I
don't live in Kansas,
00:49:14.38\00:49:16.45
'cause that's tornado alley."
00:49:16.48\00:49:18.25
Well, guess what, folks?
00:49:18.29\00:49:19.92
Southern
Illinois is tornado alley,
00:49:19.95\00:49:22.29
we don't have
normal storms anymore.
00:49:22.32\00:49:24.79
You know, and this
year we've been bombarded
00:49:24.83\00:49:27.23
with record breaking
hurricanes and disasters.
00:49:27.26\00:49:30.30
But even here in
southern Illinois,
00:49:30.33\00:49:32.47
we've had
record breaking storms,
00:49:32.50\00:49:34.64
inland hurricanes
00:49:34.67\00:49:36.20
that have done
terrible disasters.
00:49:36.24\00:49:38.37
But you know what?
00:49:38.41\00:49:39.74
As a child of God,
00:49:39.77\00:49:41.14
and we did this
during that inland hurricane,
00:49:41.18\00:49:43.68
knelt down and prayed.
00:49:43.71\00:49:45.05
And you can have peace
00:49:45.08\00:49:47.02
that God is there to protect you
00:49:47.05\00:49:49.12
in the midst of the
storm, isn't that beautiful?
00:49:49.15\00:49:51.55
We're in a house, back home,
00:49:51.59\00:49:54.82
we're working all
the time, new house.
00:49:54.86\00:49:57.43
And I'm telling
you, there were trees,
00:49:57.46\00:50:00.73
I'm not exaggerating,
was this big around.
00:50:00.76\00:50:03.33
And of cross in the front,
00:50:03.37\00:50:04.93
there was in the
house over there,
00:50:04.97\00:50:06.53
that was just
twisted and snapped.
00:50:06.57\00:50:08.60
Those things sound like
shot gun blast going off,
00:50:08.64\00:50:10.91
those things are
becoming and falling,
00:50:10.94\00:50:12.87
and just the leaves
would touch our house.
00:50:12.91\00:50:15.51
In the back of the house,
another split came and just...
00:50:15.54\00:50:18.68
When it came, few of the
leaves touched the house.
00:50:18.71\00:50:21.42
We know that God
heard and answered prayer.
00:50:21.45\00:50:23.89
All around us,
we're talking about
00:50:23.92\00:50:25.82
devastation of any
of those trees had hit,
00:50:25.85\00:50:28.39
we would been dead.
00:50:28.42\00:50:30.06
So God preserved, so
we are thankful for that.
00:50:30.09\00:50:31.89
Yes, He does. Really.
00:50:31.93\00:50:33.63
I love that, the peace.
00:50:33.66\00:50:36.36
Yes.
00:50:36.40\00:50:37.83
In verse 27,
"Peace I leave with you,
00:50:37.87\00:50:39.90
my peace I give unto you,
00:50:39.93\00:50:41.60
not as the world
giveth give I unto you."
00:50:41.64\00:50:45.41
You know, that type of peace,
00:50:45.44\00:50:47.28
so many people
search for that peace.
00:50:47.31\00:50:50.78
But they never find it,
00:50:50.81\00:50:52.15
because they
look for it in money,
00:50:52.18\00:50:53.52
they look for it
in relationships,
00:50:53.55\00:50:56.72
they look for it in cars,
00:50:56.75\00:50:58.75
or any type of
materialistic thing.
00:50:58.79\00:51:01.62
But there is a void
that only Christ can fill.
00:51:01.66\00:51:04.39
And so when you invite Christ
00:51:04.43\00:51:06.86
to be your
personal Lord and Savior,
00:51:06.90\00:51:08.90
you will
experience true inner peace.
00:51:08.93\00:51:13.10
Amen. Amen.
00:51:13.13\00:51:14.87
And it's interesting
when you meet Christians
00:51:14.90\00:51:17.67
that have that inner peace.
00:51:17.71\00:51:19.04
The Holy spirit
just kind of confirms.
00:51:19.07\00:51:21.54
You know, as a family,
you may never meet before,
00:51:21.58\00:51:25.05
but just all of a sudden,
you feel that connection,
00:51:25.08\00:51:28.22
and that is the
Spirit of God at work.
00:51:28.25\00:51:29.92
Well, you know,
Matthew 7 is the passage,
00:51:29.95\00:51:33.32
when we are
talking about Christ,
00:51:33.36\00:51:34.69
you want the Holy Spirit,
what we have to do first, ask.
00:51:34.72\00:51:37.59
Matthew 7 said, "Ask and
it shall be given to you,"
00:51:37.63\00:51:40.66
and then we,
"knock, it's going to open."
00:51:40.70\00:51:42.63
So those are the passages
that we need to be claiming.
00:51:42.66\00:51:45.37
You want the Holy
Spirit, ask for the Holy Spirit.
00:51:45.40\00:51:47.94
Holy Spirit wants
to come in your heart,
00:51:47.97\00:51:49.30
He wants to take
possession of your life,
00:51:49.34\00:51:51.17
He wants to give you that peace
that passes all understanding.
00:51:51.21\00:51:53.98
We live in the
midst of the storm,
00:51:54.01\00:51:56.85
the Lord's coming,
we understand that.
00:51:56.88\00:51:58.65
There's a work
that needs to be done,
00:51:58.68\00:52:00.08
and we're all
praying that God would use us
00:52:00.12\00:52:02.28
help finish His work so that
we can all go home together.
00:52:02.32\00:52:05.15
This is the part of the
study, this is what is about
00:52:05.19\00:52:07.22
is being anointed
and consecrated to God
00:52:07.26\00:52:09.42
asking for the
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:52:09.46\00:52:11.29
That's just one
point that we're...
00:52:11.33\00:52:13.43
Yeah, we're
looking at... Jesus used.
00:52:13.46\00:52:16.10
And we'd like to
get in to all those
00:52:16.13\00:52:17.47
but we don't
have time right now.
00:52:17.50\00:52:19.27
'Cause you know what
we're gonna be doing,
00:52:19.30\00:52:20.77
we're running out
of time right now.
00:52:20.80\00:52:22.24
But when we come back,
00:52:22.27\00:52:23.61
we're going to come back
right after this for wrap up.
00:52:23.64\00:52:25.54
But right now, we're
going to go to a news break.
00:52:25.57\00:52:28.18
And we'll be back to wrap it
up in just a couple of minutes,
00:52:28.21\00:52:30.65
so just stay tuned.
00:52:30.68\00:52:32.01